UK’s Starmer Wants AI Chatbots to Follow Online Safety Rules
The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, is taking significant steps to address the issue of AI chatbots disseminating harmful content. In a forthcoming speech, he is set to announce measures aimed at ensuring these chatbots adhere to laws designed to protect children online.
Responsibility of AI Chatbot Providers
Starmer’s initiative mandates that all AI chatbot providers will be held accountable for moderating and preventing the spread of illegal content, in accordance with the Online Safety Act. Currently, this law applies primarily to platforms where users interact and share content, such as social media, but does not extend to private chatbots.
“The government will move fast to shut a legal loophole and force all AI chatbot providers,” Starmer will assert during his speech. “Today we are closing loopholes that put children at risk.”
Strengthening Safeguards for Children
In a broader effort to enhance safeguards for children in the age of artificial intelligence, Starmer recently emphasized the enforcement of a law that prohibits the sexualization of individuals’ images without their consent. He has characterized content generated by Grok, an AI product developed by Elon Musk, as “disgusting and shameful.”
Potential Measures and Consultations
The proposed actions might include implementing a minimum age requirement for social media usage and restricting features such as infinite scrolling. These measures follow the government’s consultations regarding children’s wellbeing online, emphasizing the importance of creating a safer digital environment for young users.
